INTRODUCTION, 19 



been said that a scientific work is old as soon as the printer's 

 ink is dry. Up to the moment of sending my concluding 

 pages to press, I realize this ; and remarkably so in the 

 growing interest in the Ophidia. Writings on this subject 

 are becoming so frequent that, while correcting proofs, I 

 am tempted to add footnotes enough almost for another 

 volume. 



Several circumstances have combined to enrich ophio- 

 logical literature within a few years; one which, in 1872, 

 I quite think established a sort of new era in this 

 branch of zoology, was the appearance of Dr. Fayrer's 

 magnificent work, TJie ThanatopJiidia of India. Mr. BuUen, 

 then the Superintendent of the Reading-Room at the British 

 Museum, knowing that the subject was engaging my atten- 

 tion, informed me of the arrival of this book, and, with his 

 ever kind thought for students, ordered it into the room for 

 my express use ; and I think I may affirm, that I was the 

 very first * reader ' who had the privilege of inspecting the 

 work, and, I hope, of helping to make it popular. For 

 as day after day those huge folio leaves stood open, 

 with the conspicuous and lifelike illustrations almost 

 moving before your eyes, readers would linger and gaze, 

 acquaintances would stop to inquire and inspect ; some with 

 a shudder would ask 'how on earth I could endure the sight 

 of such fearful creatures t ' while a few would manifest 

 sufficient interest and intelligence to be indulged with a full 

 display, and to whom I eagerly aired my convictions of the 

 tremendous errors afloat concerning the snake tribe. 



* Beyond the pale of science but little is known of 

 Ophiology,' were Fayrer's words. Two years previously 



